Philippine History: An Eclectic
Chronology
“Discover the Philippines” is the title of a lecture I
gave a couple of months back at The UW-Green Bay Learning In Retirement Program. Part of
that lecture was supposed to have been this “Eclectic Chronology” or history of
the Philippines. At the last minute, I sort of threw away the script and emphasized my personal experiences and my love of the country and people over the past 22 years.. More recently I decided to use the lecture as the basis for my monthly column in the VIA Times Newsmagazine for March, 2015. After writing the column, I decided that I still liked my original lecture material that I sort of threw away. Here are some excerpts you might enjoy.
1896: Filipino rebels, called Katipuneros, begin what
becomes the Philippine Revolution against Spain. Now the chronology gets sticky as the
Philippine Revolution and the Spanish-American War (1898) intersect. The
Filipinos expect the Americans to help them gain independence. On June 12, 1898, anticipating the capitulation
of Spanish forces, representatives of eight Philippine provinces (the eight
stars on the flag) sign the constitution establishing the Republic of the
Philippines. American ground forces
arrive to support Admiral Dewey whose fleet has sunk the Spanish navy and blockaded
Manila from the sea. The Filipinos, who
have cut off the city on the landward side, welcome the U.S. ground forces as
allies.
They are mistaken.
The Spanish, with U.S. concurrence, agree to surrender to the Americans
on condition that the Americans keep the Philippine army from taking over the
city. This agreement goes into effect on
August 14. The formal surrender of Spain
to the U.S. occurs on December 12 (The Treaty of Paris). Spain cedes the Philippines to the U.S. for
$20,000,000. President McKinley, decides
to colonize the Philippines in order to Christianize the people, although it
has been predominantly Catholic for over three centuries.
1899-1901: The Philippine-American War. By February of 1899, the Filipinos realize
that the Americans do not intend to leave.
They fight the Americans.
McKinley calls it an “insurrection” that will be quickly put down. It takes three years and a build-up of 75,000 U.S. troops.
1946: The U.S. recognizes Philippine independence
on July 4, which is celebrated as Independence Day in the Philippines until
1964, when June 12 becomes Independence Day.
Present Day: The Philippines is the staunchest ally of
the U.S. in Asia and perhaps in the world.
Check out the full article at the VIA Times Newsmagazine web site in a month or two.
